Venice Guidebook

Should I get this Venice book in addition to either Rick's complete Italy guidebook or his Best of Italy guidebook?

Probably not. If you're only spending a few days in Venice, as part of a longer trip in Italy, the Venice chapter of either Italy guidebook is all you're likely to need.

If, however, you're spending four days or more in Venice, the extra information in Rick Steves Venice can be worthwhile. It offers more in-depth sightseeing information, several additional self-guided city walks and museum/sight tours, and more specifics on shopping and nightlife, plus suggestions for kids. Other information is generally the same, especially compared to the complete Rick Steves Italy guidebook, which includes nearly all the hotels, restaurants, and nitty-gritty practical advice for Venice and its day trips that you'll find in the city book. (But compared to Rick Steves Best of Italy, the Venice guidebook does have a few more hotel and restaurant listings, as well as more comprehensive coverage of day-trip options.)

What's the difference between this Venice guidebook and Rick's Pocket Venice guide?

Rick Steves Pocket Venice works best for people taking a short trip, or perhaps a return trip, to Venice. Like our other Pocket guides, Pocket Venice is smaller than the complete guidebook and in full color (but still offers our best sightseeing advice and a handful of self-guided city walks and museum tours).

For travelers who want to delve deep into Venice, the full-size guidebook is a better option. It offers more substantial (and more frequently updated) advice on every front: practicalities, sightseeing, self-guided tours, hotels, restaurants, nightlife, shopping, kids' activities, and the city's history and culture, plus chapters on the best day trips.